Spring construction



Feb. 26, 1946. r L c, SHER 2,395,402

SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 16, 1941 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR19174;? C Hair:-

, ATTORN 5.

Feb. 26, 1946. c. FISHER SPRING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June16, 1941 INVENTOR fylrfay C? 725Zerr ATTORN 5 Patented Feb. 26, 1946,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING CONSTRUCTION Lyman C. Fisher,Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 16, 1941, Serial No.398,177

9 Claims.

rings which are clamped about the springs and v the border wire when inabutting relation or which are secured by safety pin types of clips whenthe springs are disposed in spaced relation.

In practicing my present invention, I elimihate the use of the hog ringsand pins by forming a wire strip into zig-zag formation and dispose theconvolutions of the strip over the wire forming the spring and in someinstances over the border wire. It may be advisable in most instances tosecure the marginalsprings to the border wire by the hog rings to moresecurely anchor the border springs to the wire and to interconnect theintermediate springs relative to each other by the sinuous spring strip.The strip not only retains the springs in position, but provides acontinuous top surface while retaining the resiliency of the spring,which may assume a predetermined desirable contour when loaded.

The convolutions are preferably crimped closer together at the openedges so as to snap over the wire of the springs and the frame and to belocked in position. The strips may bedisposed parallel to the edges ofthe frame or at an angle thereto and interlocked relative to' each otherat the points of intersection and may be sinuously disposed between therows of springs.

The strips may be continuous so as to extend from one to the other sideof the frame or may be cut into small lengths and the lengths employedto span the space between the adjacent springs. The strip may also beemployed between rows of springs which are disposed in pockets made offabric material such as burlap, cotton cloth and the like and may be hogringed to the adjacent pocketed springs for maintaining the springs inlateral position relative to each other. The open convolutions of thestrip may be partially or entirely closed and may be made of round orflat stock. While I have mentioned the strip as being employed onsprings, such as coil springs and those of the zig-zag type, it is to beunderstood that the strip is useful for resiliently spacing otherelements relative to each other.

Accordingly, the' main objects of my invention are: to provide a sinuousstrip made of wire bent in zig-zag form and employed as a spacing meansfor elements; to space a plurality of springs relative to a frame byusing a strip formed of wire bent in zig-zag formation, the convolutionsof which are forced over the wire of the springs and/or frame; to form astrip, for spacing springs and objects relative to each other, from wirebent in zig-zag formation with the normally open convolution partiallyor wholly closed to provide resistance against removal; to form a stripof sinuous shape from wire which may be round or rectangular in crosssection for the purpose of spacing elements relative to each other; and,in general, to provide a sinuous spring strip which retains elementsrelative to each other, which is simple in construction and economicalof manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be eitherspecifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of my invention, to the following description takenin conjunction wit the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken plan view of a spring cushion employing a pair ofspaced sinuous strips embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken view of a spring construction showing onemethod of use of my spacing strip;

Fig. 3 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2,showing a further manner in which the spacing strip may be employed;

Fig. 4 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2,showing a still further manner in which the spacing strip may beutilized;

Fig. 5 is a viewof structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4.with the spacing strips shown as individual elements;

Fig. 6 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2,showing a still further use of my spacing strip;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 1, taken on the line thereof;

Fig. 8 is a viewof structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. '7,showing a modified form of my invention; and e Fig. 9 is a view ofstructure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8, showing a stillfurther form which my invention may assume.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a seat cushion I0 having a frame I I ofconventional form across which sinuous spring strips l2 are bridged. Thesinuous spring strips are similar to-those of the Karl Kaden ReissuePatent No. 21 ,263, issued November 12, 1939, under which the presentassignee tions.

I 5,the open space between which is partially closed to lock the stripIS in position. The strip may be so formed as to have the spaces betweenthe convolutions entirely closed as illustrated on the strip l6 of Fig.8. In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a strip I! which is made of fiat stockbeing rectangular in cross section and providing a greater resistanceagainst the opening of the abutted convolu- The employment of the stripeliminates the necessity of hog ringing the individual springs togetherwhen abutted, or when spaced, securing the springs by the safety pintype of clip. It is only necessary to snap the spacing strip l3 over thespring strips l2 to complete the assembly of springs. The strips notonly maintain the spring elements spaced relative to each other, butpermit them to be freely deflected when loaded.

Fig. 2 illustrates the strips I3 (I6 or IT) when applied to the topcoils of a coil spring unit. The strips l3 are disposed parallel to theedges of the frame and cross each other on the axis of the coils so asto be firmly locked on the coils l8 and to each other. The ends of thestrips extend over a border wire 2| and provide the locking means forsecuring the border wire to the top coil of the springs.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated the border coil springs It as beingsecured to the border wire 2! by hog rings 22 in the conventional mannerwith the springs I8 spaced apart and secured in resilient relation toeach other by the sinuous strips l3 (16 or H) which are serpentinelydisposed across alternately disposed springs and which cross each otheron a medial line between the rows of springs.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated the strips l3 (I6 or H) as beingdiagonally disposed relative to the border wire 2| to which the spacedborder coil springs [8 are secured by hog rings 22. The diagonallydisposed strips intersect each other in the center of the springs andalso on lines disposed between the rows of springs. A greater number ofthe strips l3 are employed in this construction than in that shown inFig. 2 which closes the gaps between the springs and provides increasedsupport for the trim padding.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a spring assembly similar to that of Fig.4 with the exception that short pieces of the strip l3, such as that inFig. 8, are used for joining the springs together. The strips have theend convolution anchored to the coil springs I 8 and are joined to eachother at the point of intersection between four of the springs. Materialsaving in the amount of the strip employed, results from the use oftheshort pieces over that when long lengths 9f, the strip are utilized.I

, In Fig. 6, I have illustrated an assembly of coil springs l8. disposedin rows of pockets 23 which are extended across the seat structure. Theborder wire 2| is secured to the top convolution of the marginal coilspring by the hog rings 22. Between the longitudinally extending rows ofcoil springs the strips I3 (l6 and l1) are disposed and are secured tothe adjacent springs l8 and I to the pocket material by hog rings 22.The strips l3 in this manner act as resilient spacers for positioningthe coils of the rows relative to each other whilemaintainingfiexibility.

What I claim is:

1. In upholstery spring construction, a support comprising a pluralityof longitudinally elastic springs formed of strip material havingzig-zag shape, a continuous tie member intersecting and spacing saidsprings and fixedly secured at each such intersection thereto, said tiemember comprising a wire stri having successive oppositely openingloops, all of which are substantially in the same plane, the plane ofsaid tie being substantially, normal to' the plane of said springs, saidsprings being received within said loops at said intersections betweensaid springs and said tie, said loops in said tie which receive saidsprings opening in one direction.

2. In upholstery spring construction, a support comprising a pluralityof longitudinally elastic springs formed of strip material havingzig-zag shape, a continuous tie member linearly intersecting said springand fixedly secured thereto at each such intersection, said tie membercomprising a wire strip having successive oppositely opening loops whichare substantially in the same plane, said loops being so spaced that anumber of said loops lie between successive points of intersection ofsaid tie with said springs, at which points said springs are receivedwithin loops adjacent thereto, the plane of said tie being substantiallynormal to the plane of said springs, and said loops receiving saidsprings opening in one direction. I

3. In a spring construction, a plurality of coil springs, means on whichsaid springs are supported, a plurality of strips formed of wire bent inzigzag formation, said strips being disposed in a plane parallel to theaxes of the coil springs and disposed over the top coils of saidsprings, said coils extending into the open convolutions of the stripsfor spacing the springs relative to each other.

4. In a spring construction, a plurality of coil springs, means on whichsaid springs are supported, a plurality of strips formed of wire bent inzigzag formation, said strips being disposed in a plane parallel to theaxes of the coil springs and disposed over the top coils of saidsprings, said coils extending into the open convolutions oi the stripsfor spacing the springs relative to each other, and a border wireextending around the marginal springs and retained in position relativethereto by the endmost convolutions of the strips.

5. In a spring assembly, a plurality of coil springs, means on whichsaid springs are supported, sinuous spring strips made of wire bentported, strips of wire bent in zigzag formation to provide convolutionsdisposed parallel tothe axes of said coil springs and certain of the;spaces between the convolutions of the strips receiving the top coils ofthe springs to resiliently space them relative to eachother, said spacesb illfiof-less of coil I springs, means on which said springs aresupwidth than the diameter of the wire of said top coil.

7. In a spring construction, a plurality of springs, means on which saidsprings are supported, short strips or wire bent in zigzag formationhaving the open convolutions oi less width than the wire of the springs,said strips having certain of their open convolutlons snapped over thewire of the springs and said strips spacing the springs relative to eachother, the strips being disposed in crossed relation to provide aresilient support between the springs.

8. In a spring construction, a. plurality of spring elements made 01wire, means for supporting said elements, a strip of wire bent in zigzagformation to provide spaced convolutions having restricted elements,means on which said elements are supported, strips of wire bent inzig-zag formation having the open convolutions of less width than thewire of the spring elements, said strips being disposed in a planeparallel to the axes of said springs and snapped downwardly over thespring elements for positioning the spring elements relative to eachother.

LYMAN C. FISHER.

